Meet Up

It's always so much fun to "meet up" and reconnect with those from days gone by! Especially, when you so easily fall into conversation as if it were just yesterday that you had been chatting not several months ago!

 
That's exactly what we did today. We drove west, he drove east and we met up for lunch! We spent the lunch hour and a good portion of the afternoon just chatting away! It was so much fun! One of the reasons we are looking forward to our East coast trip...we will see him again!

Wednesday Words - Bible

Merry Christmas...   

 

The Birth of Jesus as written in the book of Luke, chapter 2, from the Holy Bible.

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Merry, merry Christmas, officially!!!

Merry Christmas!

And we DO mean MERRY CHRISTMAS! That's just the kind of folks we are...not that there is anything wrong with Season's Greetings or Happy Holidays or any of that it's just we prefer Merry Christmas, thankyouverymuch!

Our official Merry Christmas note for the year...sorry, there was no mass mailing of cards this year, cause, well, you know, we are no longer at a mailing address. Therefore, we skipped using the USPS and went with an e-communication this blog post instead! Grab a hot cocoa, cup of joe and let's catch up!

 The UNofficial Retirement photo!

We are now officially R.E.T.I.R.E.D. Yep, that’s our BIG gigantic news for the year but keep reading as there is more BIG gigantic news...   However, after 26 years, 10 months and 3 days in the USAF it is our life nomore! Talk about change...this has been the story of our life but this year it's been HUGE! We are now happily living full time in our newtous RV and love it. We bought a 2002 Itasca Sunova just a year ago and have been to nine states and counting. We may just have to hit all the lower 48 states before we give this gig up!

In other BIG gigantic news our one and done graduated college in May and got married in July we are quickly became really foot loose and fancy free. And honestly, there was a point where we thought we would just both re-enter the work force and be somewhat normal Americans; then decided, nah, let’s live a little. We can always get jobs later! So that’s what we’ve been doing since the wedding living foot loose and fancy free! It's a pretty good way to go and so far we like the decision we made!

We have been all over the Midwest and decided to “winter” in central Florida this year . Then our plan is to trek up the East coast in the spring. We would like to hit the Boston/Cape Cod area, Maine and Niagara Falls for sure, the rest of the I-10 is wide open! Suggestions welcome! After that we will make our way down through the Midwest to visit the daughter before heading west! The thought is to make it out west for the winter. Then who knows what’s next! It sounds crazy we know and we are so excited to be able to make this journey at this point in our life, we are truly so very blessed and beside ourselves with excitement!

Speaking of blessings, we have had such tremendous blessings since we started this nomadic living! God has protected us, provided for us and given us much to be thankful for. We have been so blessed to be able to reconnect and spend time with so many from our past it’s been awesome. Don't think it's all been without hiccups because we have certainly had our days and doubts. But for the most part it's been just amazing. Not perfect mind you but awesomely amazing! 

 Living the dream...

Many blessings to you and yours as you enter another new year. Make it a great one and seize the moments you have! 

#MERRYCHRISTMAS

ONE YEAR

It's our ONE year anniversary with Sunny! It was one year ago today that we started this incredible journey! I blogged it here on a short lived blog that I started and then decided it wasn't the right fit.

So the year has gone by quicker then I imagined and yet it seems like we have been doing this forever already (in a good way). I am amazed at how quickly we adapted and have been Living the dream... Cheesy I know but truer words can't have been thought or written!

We have made some great memories and we are looking forward to making more. It's been a year of learning, challenges and doubts. It's been a year that we feel pretty darn great and incompetent all in the same moment, it's been incredible. We are looking forward to continuing even if that wasn't the original plan, it's the new plan now! We are planning to go for year two, yep that's right, we are planning year two right now. And we are super excited about the possibilities!

Stay tuned as we continue to LIVE THE DREAM!

 The view we have not grown tired of seeing...

#BeautifulSunsets

#BeachViews

Wednesday Words - Barton

At church a few weeks ago the message was on forgiveness... 

The quote (encounter) the pastor used has stuck with me. I have been mulling it over a lot ever since. I guess that means it made an impact and therefore I share it with you today for Wednesday Words...

Clara Barton, the nurse who founded the American Red Cross in 1881, made it a rule never to hold onto resentment.

A friend once reminded her of a cruel incident some years previously, but Barton seemed not to recall it.

"Don't you remember the wrong that was done to you?" the friend asked.

"No," Barton answered calmly. "I distinctly remember forgetting that."

I really love the concept of her thought. However, I will also not hesitate to admit it is not as easy to follow her practice...at least in my world! I don't always forget so easily. It served as another gentle reminder I am to continue to work on this.
  
I could probably go on to say so much more but suffice to say I need to distinctly forget some things...

 #forgivenessAIN'Teasy
#ChurchAtViera

Tampa Mail Run!!

It's been awhile since we've had real mail. I mean we get the updates over the phone and we get the scans but to put our hands on our own mail; well, it's been awhile! Since one of MiRVs brothers live across the way to the west and he had been in MO last month he brought the mail accumulation with him for delivery to us. A whole box (and to be honest not much of it was really needed at all!) A couple items did need attention (you know county taxes) but the rest with the exception of MiRVs magazines was dumpster material as my dad often says! So we stripped our name off of it and sent it on it's way to the dumpster. That was only after we burned a little of it in the fire pit! Now, that was fun, too bad there are no pictures!!!

If only the junk would stop, but at least there was no charge in this delivery. Thanks MM!

  And MiRV really has enjoyed looking at these since we returned...

Yep, C broke out the wine to go with dinner!


We also enjoyed visiting while we were there and there was a great steak dinner too, thanks for grilling out MM we really had a great time!

Tangelo tree in their front yard...can you say SOUR and seeds :(

As we trekked back we stopped at the B I G  R V place! Kinds neat to look around but not gonna be seeing us in anything they had on their lot anytime soon. But we did have fun just ogling it all and thought nope, nope, maybe, someday, definitely NOT and okay maybe on the different options and setups. For the most part they were rigs equipped way too fancy to us, I mean TWO bathrooms, really in an RV, I think not...but it's probably on somebodies must have list, just not mine! And like MiRV said, "I think we did pretty good on what we got and what we paid; in fact, I'm really happy with what we have." I totally agree with him. :)

Have a great day all!

Wednesday Words - Tzu

"A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving"

~Lao Tzu

Quite a thought to think. yes? Though I'll admit I do like to have a few plans in place cause I am a planner like that! 

However, I do also enjoy the ability to change those said plans...on a whim, if I choose...but let's be honest I am not the spontaneous type. I know, say it ain't so, but it IS. 

Though I do enjoy moments of "planned spontaneity" !!! I mean if there is such a thing...and obviously there is! At least in my world!!! 

I know a little bit crazy but that's how it works for me!

Sea Turtles

I love, love, love sea turtles...one of the COOLEST things I have gotten to do in life is hold a leather back sea turtle, it happened while we were stationed here at Patrick a few years ago, it was just totally the most awesomest thing to get to do!!!

Several days ago while on the beach we came across a dead sea turtle on the beach. So sad! We immediately called the Sea Turtle Preservation Society to report it and within minutes the volunteer was there to take the stats and make a formal report. MiRV even helped him out. We have talked about volunteering with this organization in the past but when we were living here we just had too many commitments. I think this was just the nudge to get out there and DO IT.

 Recording the stats.

 Such a sad sight to see...

We have now joined the cause!!! We are official members of the STPS and will soon be full fledged volunteers!!! I'm so excited! 

I hope you have or will find causes to share your time and talents. There are so many worthy organizations out there and one could run ragged trying to help them all but it never hurts to join in and help out no matter where you are or what your status in life. Volunteering is a good thing and I think we should all be doing it. Usually we put our main focus within the church we associate with but since we have a little more time right now we are expanding our horizons!!

#SeaTurtlePreservationSociety

November Money Matters

Time for our monthly update...surprise, we moved again...just wanted to make sure you knew that in case you missed that posting!! 

Other major items of financial interest was a battery for the CRV ($110.21), lifetime membership dues for GoodSam ($149.00) and RV insurance was due this month ($901.00). That (RV ins) is one of our yearly expense that we set aside a little each month to cover. MiRV did look at changing companies but after comparison shopping we are staying with what we have.

The big picture breakdown for November looks like this...food budget did pretty good even for having the Thanksgiving meal. We were UNDER budget!!! Did you catch that, UNDER budget!!! I tell you having an Aldi around is most awesome!!! I even stocked up on my coffee since BB&B offered 20% off entire purchase on Veteran's Day. Just the kind of sale I was hoping for! The CRV battery puts us over on that line item for the month but not overall.

Surprise! OVER AGAIN on food out...our wallets are taking a beating here! I will be making an adjustment for this line item for 2014, just gotta bite the bullet and do it since we are so consistently over! Ughhhh!

Christmas is coming; glad we save all year long for this and won't take a huge hit there. However, I was a little dismayed to see how are personal property taxes increased; nearly DOUBLED...we did add the RV, traded SMARTie for Deuce and upgraded to the newer Accord for MrsBud. So I knew we had changes just never expected the changes to cause that much of an increase. So glad that we put a little away each month for this expense and that we have the excess to take care of the increase! That will definitely be a line item that gets adjusted for 2014!!

November's stats -

Charitable Gifts $430.00 (O)


RV Slots $500.00 (U)
RV Fuel $126.55 (U)
CRV Fuel $89.50 (U)
CRV Upkeep $110.21 (O)
RV Exp/Upkeep/Maint $191.15(U)

Groceries $217.77 (U)
Cell Phone $110.00
Eating Out $155.53 (O)

Gifts $29.11 (U)
Entertainment $8.00 (U)
Laundry $3.00 (U)

(U) = UNDER
(O) = OVER 

Again, seeing the numbers in print helps me! So bear with me if you are bored by these updates! And I'm a happy girl since dollars made it into savings again this month...and we are certainly living within our means and meeting our goals financially for this stage and that is such awesomeness for us! 

#SaveMoney 
#ALDI

Wednesday Words - Riselli

Old friends are the best friends. Especially when you pick up like no time has passed. 

~Katye Riselli *

This is E.X.A.C.T.L.Y. how I feel about CLP!  We were in Italy together, and each time we've been able to reunite we pick up like no time has passed, it's wonderful! Recently, we were able to spend a couple days together while we were in Destin. We went Goodwill shopping for a theater performance she is costuming, did lunch and made a couple bookstore stops! We had such a good time! In addition we had dinner with our guys several evenings, I am thankful our paths were able to cross again!

 GREAT Friends!!!

Make sure your life is enriched with friendships like this! 

#FriendsForever

* I actually have the honor and privilege to really KNOW Katye Riselli in person and she just has a worth with words you might say! And I think she's pretty darn awesome!

Falcon 9 Launch (and more)

Today we were blessed to be able to view the launch up close and personal due to the fact that Three Doors Down is in the area for the launch!  Way cool!!! Course this was the "third time's a charm" launch and we actually ended up on the Cape side a little closer on the ITL causeway then the two times before when we were on the Kennedy side; it was all good! 

However, before we even knew for sure that the launch was on we were up early to catch the sunrise over the Atlantic this morning. Little cloudy but beautiful nonetheless!!! First time since we've been here we've gotten up to do this! We sort of enjoy sleeping in!

Sunrise 3 DEC 2013

After the sunrise and breakfast at the club (FREE) and seeing how nice a day it was going to be we decided to head to the beach. I enjoyed some quality suntime as well as book reading time and MiRV got great waves. He probably had his best surfing day to date, catching over 20 waves! It was a fantastic beach day!!!

  One of the M A N Y waves caught today!!

Once we had the good word that the launch was on we headed to the pick up point for the ride out to the Cape. The ride out brought back many fond memories of our time here and we even ran into a former mate while at the launch!
 

 Kennedy Space Center! (from out first trip attempt)

  We got swag (again, on the first attempt)

This was a launch to allow satellite communications for TV broadcasting. It was also a very big deal to get this rocket off the ground. TO SUCCESS for the hard working SpaceX team it was amazing!

Since we are so familiar with launching of rockets and shuttles we were not surprised that this thing did not go on the first attempt, it didn't even go the second time (on Thanksgiving day no less) so as I mentioned "third time IS a charm" and off she went! It was incredible to be so close we saw and felt it! It was such a clear sky we saw the separation too, which was awesome. It's neat to be able to see things like this, THANKS Three Doors Down!! Glad we were able to continue to chase the launch and be there! You and your team rock!
 
Oh and as a bonus there was a rockin' sunset! 

What a great FULL day for us!!!


#SpaceX

Local FUN Find

While out doing a few errands and shopping a few days back we happened by a new place in town Volcano Island Eatery. 

 Oh my, how exciting to find this little place!

Well, let's be honest what really caught our eye was the "Bakery" signage on the building, along with the word Portuguese. Wow, we have to go back. So we did, they have just recently opened! We were so excited to find they are actually from the Azores, which is where we were stationed back in the day on the island of Terceira. They hail from San Miguel. When we rode by the first time I did not notice the actual name of the establishment I just saw the word signs "Portuguese" and "Bakery". After we made it back by and inside I noticed the "islands" and knew they were Azorean. They have green soup and will soon have papo secos (pronounced pup sec) a wonderful Portuguese roll. They also have Portuguese sweet bread along with malasadas (on weekends). We haven't had malasada's since we were in Hawaii. Can't wait to have them again.

 

 Me with the owner!

We had a treat and got some bread to go and promised we would be back for soup soon! Can't hardly wait~

#VolcanoIslandEatery